1) Ride a well maintained bike
2) Know how to ride the conditions you will encounter, be flexible with your schedule, and be able to fix your bike when necessary
3) Wear proper riding gear and carry only what you need to be self sufficient/prepared...less really is more when it comes to motorcycle travel (took me a while to figure that out!).

1. Standard toolkit and whatever else you need.
2. Tire repair kit. Inclusive of patches, tool, pump.
3. Expendables. Spark plugs and light bulbs for me.
4. Utility knife. Knife and saws will be very useful.
5. Pocket flashlight. The L shaped variety that the army uses. Spare batteries for this fellow as well. It has colored filters, which can be useful when you are trying to get attention.
6. Basic medical supplies. Antiseptic cream, bandages, water tablets, plenty of your own medication if you have a prescription.
7. Communications device. A satellite phone if you are rich, a cheap cellphone with the locally available prepaid cards if not. I prefer the latter, you have a nice collection of international cards when you get back home. Turning on your providers' roaming option is expensive.
8. Writing material. For writing your memoirs.
9. An english to whatever language translation dictionary. A good one can also serve as a weapon.
10. A battery charging system. Ciggy lighter socket and a good usb adapter, hooked up to a battery charger. Dont count on having running electricity. You can even use it to charge your phone, with the proper wires. Dont lose the batteries! Dont even lend them to anyone!

and every grocery store's produce department has lightweight plastic bags for when your ziplocks fail, you really don't want to coat your hands with grease, what i need is an ice pack, hey this waterproof pocket isn't...etc. stuff some in your white bags.

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'00 BMW R1100RT, Gone away: 5 previous BMW's, 3 Honda's, 2 Suzuki's
------------"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." - Marcus Aurelius

Take whatever it takes to keep you alive until help comes or you can ride or walk to help. And, whatever it takes to keep your bike in rideable shape to get you to that help. Everything else is fluff.....lol

Add or change anything above to this list that takes your fancy.......seriously!